Bradford

Bradford's population expanded between the last two censuses. Data from the census show there were changes in ethnicity, housing tenure and religion.

The population passed half a million

Between the last two censuses, the population of Bradford increased by 12%, from almost 468,000 to 522,000.

The addition of almost 55,000 people means this area's population was the fastest-growing in Yorkshire and The Humber and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Bradford was home to, on average, 10 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it Yorkshire and The Humber's third-most densely-populated district.

Population density was higher than the average across Yorkshire and The Humber

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Yorkshire and The Humber, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Bradford

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Bradford decreased by one year, from 35 to 34 years.

This multi-cultural area had the lowest average age in Yorkshire and The Humber and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 12,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by about 200.

About 14% of people in Bradford are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, Yorkshire and The Humber and Bradford by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Bradford

The number of people in Bradford from the White ethnic groups increased from about 370,000 in 2001 to about 350,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 78% to 67% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across Yorkshire and The Humber (from 93% to 89%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Bradford from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 89,000 in 2001 to about 140,000 in 2011 (from 19% to 27%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 6,900 to just under 13,000 (from 1.5% to 2.5%).

Just under 9,300 people (0.9%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 4,300 in 2001 (1.8%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Bradford decreased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, Yorkshire and The Humber and Bradford by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Bradford that rented privately increased from 9.7% to 18% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in seven (15%) households lived in social housing, compared with 16% in 2001. The percentage of Bradford households that owner their home decreased from 71% to 65%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Yorkshire and The Humber (from 9.1% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Bradford increased by 8.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Bradford, Yorkshire and The Humber and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Bradford

The number of people in Bradford that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 62,000 in 2001 to about 110,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 13% to 21% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across Yorkshire and The Humber (from 14% to 26%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Bradford that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 280,000 in 2001 to just under 240,000 in 2011 (from 60% to 46%). The number of people who described themselves as Muslim increased from about 75,000 to about 130,000 (from 16% to 25%).

About 33,000 people (8.1%) did not state their religion, down from about 38,000 in 2001 (6.2%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Bradford increased by 7.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, Yorkshire and The Humber and Bradford by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Bradford stood out from other areas for children

In Bradford, the proportion went up from 34% in 2001 to 34% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion fell from 30% to 29%.

The proportion of households without children in Bradford fell from 57% to 56%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 9.4% to 9.2%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across Yorkshire and The Humber

Percentage of households that with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in Yorkshire and The Humber and the average across England, March 2011

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